#soluble-fiber

#soluble-fiber

These tiny packages pack a nutritional punch-so much so that the advisory committee for the 2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommended upping the daily serving size of legumes and promoting them as a protein source over meat and seafood. Navy beans, for example, are especially fiber-dense, and lentils are protein powerhouses.

When I lived in a big city, I used to love treating myself to lunches at trendy salad spots. Tasty as these take-out meals were, they were terrible for my wallet, and I didn't have full visibility into or control over the ingredients that went into them. I've since turned into an avid meal-prepper and make my own lunch - almost always a fiber- and protein-packed grain bowl - for a fraction of the price.

Compared with a control group that also reduced calories but did not eat oats, those on the oat based plan saw a markedly greater improvement in their cholesterol levels. The reduction remained noticeable even six weeks later. Researchers also found that the diet changed the balance of bacteria in the gut. Substances produced by these microbes appear to play an important role in the health benefits linked to oats.

There are some communities that are very unhealthy where the diversity is higher. Low diversity is not a universal marker. We found something that at first seemed surprising. That a healthy microbiome has lots of competition. These bugs are all going after the same food. In an unhealthy gut, on the other hand, you see tight cooperation - microorganisms are helping each other out.

Sorbitol can be metabolized into fructose in the liver, directly linking its consumption to the same harmful pathways that cause fatty liver disease and metabolic dysfunction. This discovery forces a sobering reevaluation of the artificial and alternative sweeteners millions consume daily in an effort to live healthier lives.

Fiber comes in two forms - soluble and insoluble. The former helps to regulate blood sugar levels in in the body, while the latter promotes healthy digestion by keeping food moving through the gut. Many fruits contain both types of fiber, so incorporating them into your snacks, breakfast bowls, and desserts comes with significant benefits.

Sugar alcohols aren't inherently worse than regular sugar, they're just metabolized differently. Regular sugar is fully digested and predictably raises blood sugar levels. Sugar alcohols like erythritol are only partially absorbed, so they typically provide fewer calories and have a smaller impact on blood sugar, although some types can still raise it modestly.

Gut bacteria are crucial to ensuring healthy digestion and defecation. But two species of bacteria may also be the cause of constipation: according to a new study, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Akkermansia muciniphila appear to work in concert to break down colonic mucin, the slimy coating in our colons that keeps our poo moving along. Too little mucin means a drier and more constipation-prone colon.

The reason cabbage (and beans, for that matter) is a "musical fruit" is a complex sugar known as raffinose. Raffinose is especially hard for the human gut to digest because the small intestine cannot process it. So, by the time it reaches the colon, the bacteria used to break it down release gas that leads to bloating and flatulence. Furthermore, as a cruciferous veggie, cabbage also contains high amounts of sulfuric compounds,

Late-night snacking has had a bad rap for a long time. When pop culture takes a stab at this (very) human thing, it often portrays the scene as pernicious or, at best, distasteful. Combine that with regular condemnation by diet culture and accusatory media headlines that frame after-dinner eating as a moral failing, and it's easy to see why most of us want to steer clear.

Rachel Swanson, a registered dietitian at LifeSpan Medicine and author of "Trying!: A Science-Backed Plan to Optimize Your Fertility," splits her time between New York City and Miami, spending about half the year in each. She also takes small-group workout classes three times a week, focusing on strength training. She says eating enough nutrients, especially protein for muscle-building, is crucial for her. She generally aims for around 0.7 grams of protein per pound of body weight, the protein intake usually recommended for physically active people.

The ad leans into the truth about Raisin Bran that, for decades, it tried to obscure with messaging about its plentiful raisin content: This cereal makes you poop. I'll admit: I laughed. I can't deny a good poop joke, and its frankness about the reason some people enjoy bran cereal reminded me of my favorite SNL sketches for " Colon Blow" cereal.

Barley, the grain that is featured in this dish, is one of our most nutritious grains; it contributes protein, thiamine and niacin. Barley also is a rich source of dietary fiber. For a vegan rendition, use vegan yogurt and maple syrup instead of honey in the dressing and use olive oil instead of butter when sauteing the mushrooms. The dish is a main course salad and should be served at room temperature.

A humble - and delicious - berry could be the answer to improving your gut, brain and heart health, a major review found last week. Experts have long urged us to eat more blueberries, but thankfully you don't need to be consuming kilos of the superfruit for it to have an impact. Every year Britons consume 57,000 tonnes of the tiny fruits; enough to fill 23 Olympic size swimming pools.

Eating vegetables is always an excellent way to help you get your daily intake of fiber, but people who need an extra dose in their diet need to choose the most fiber-rich veggies possible. Broccoli is often named as a great source of this essential nutrient, yet you can find some superior options in the produce kingdom. Green peas are a nutritious legume that outclasses broccoli in terms of fiber content.

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the US, but research has found that eating a Mediterranean-style diet and being physically active can help lower the risk. The American Heart Association's dietary guidelines recommend prioritizing fresh produce, whole grains, lean proteins such as fish, and limiting ultra-processed foods and refined sugar. That may sound like a lot, but Matthew Landry told Business Insider that you don't necessarily need to overhaul your diet to improve your heart health.

Intermittent fasting within an eight-hour window can significantly reduce symptoms of Crohn's disease, a new study has found. Crohn's disease, according to the NHS, is a long-term condition where part of the gut becomes inflamed. It cannot currently be cured and the common symptoms include: diarrhoea, blood or mucus in your poo and stomach pain. Researchers at the University of Calgary found that time-restricted feeding can reduce disease activity by 40 per cent and halve abdominal discomfort in over 12 weeks in people living with Crohn's disease.

We compared how participants fared while eating their habitual diets with how they responded to the two diets that were low in ultraprocessed foods. During the periods when participants ate fewer ultraprocessed foods, they naturally consumed fewer calories and lost weight, including total and abdominal body fat. Beyond weight loss, they also showed meaningful improvements in insulin sensitivity, healthier cholesterol levels, fewer signs of inflammation, and favorable changes in hormones that help regulate appetite and metabolism.